Security company makes tendering process carbon neutral

Part of its corporate social responisbility objectives, the new tendering process at Corps Security will have minimal impact on the environment

Starting from March 2015, Corps Security's entire tendering process will be carbon neutral. This is the latest initiative in the company’s ongoing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme, which monitors the impact that its operations have on the environment and develops ways to minimise their effects.

By calculating the amount of paper used, the kilowatts of energy expended to print documents and other materials, the weight of the paper and its cost to manufacture, as well as other subsidiary factors, Corps Security will be able to work out the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) it has produced for each tender submission. Once this figure is established, the company will then pay for trees to be planted in the UK to offset these emissions as part of a Verified Carbon Standard (VCS) project.

With a firmly established sustainability based agenda, Corps Security has a detailed environmental policy document, which describes its responsibilities to the environment. The company takes every conceivable precaution to ensure that it operates in a responsible manner and its activities have been ‘rubber stamped’ through certification to ISO 14001, the international standard for environmental management systems (EMS). Certification means that Corps Security systematically reduces any harmful effects it has on the environment by developing processes to lower energy, reduce waste and pollution, and mitigate the risk of emergency situations.

A statement outlining the fact that its tender process is carbon neutral will now form part of each document sent to a prospective client. It explains how Corps Security’s actions will not only offset any CO2 emissions but also provide and maintain wildlife habitats, support biodiversity and enhance the UK’s landscape. During trials of the scheme carried out in late 2014, feedback was unanimously positive and highlighted the value placed on this type of initiative amongst those procuring security services.

Corps Security’s Chief Executive, Peter Webster, commented, ‘As a business we always aim to exceed expectations and this also extends to our CSR activities. Tree planting is a great way to offset the carbon footprint we create during the tender process and forms part of our long-term objective to make our entire operation carbon neutral and protect our natural environment.’